How Much Did This Thing Cost?

[Derrick J Brashear]

On Mon, 23 Oct 2000, Edward H. Lybarger wrote:

> Port Authority's current management inherited the West Busway project and
> fortuitously scaled it back.  It has been open about 6 weeks now and is
> carrying 5400 weekday riders, 2200 on weekends.  Wasn't it built at near-LRT
> prices?  Shouldn't you be getting 30,000 or more weekday passengers if you
> pay that much?

The "new math" is related to the "new physics" by which the new Neoplan
low floor buses the Port Authority got which are now developing frame
cracks (sound familiar? the last batch of Neoplans we had in Pittsburgh
had frame problems...) aren't a problem. Well, Neoplan is taking
responsibility and fixing them, at a temporary facility probably a few
thousand yards from my house, and I guess as long as they don't declare
things "fixed" before they really are it's not a problem.

I know it's not going to make a difference, but how hard should I be
pushing the Port Authority and local politicians about the fact that rail
is cheaper than their "busways"? Undoubtedly they'll remind me that beyond
the end of the busway a bus can use surface streets whereas the trolleys
(sorry, "light rail") would need more rail laid... which is true. But the
rail line they have with the full park 'n' ride lots and the lack of
excess vehicle capacity should tell them that if they build it, the people
will ride... 

-D